POLL | Voters want casinos for HOPE

NORCROSS, Ga. -- An 11Alive exclusive poll conducted by SurveyUSA showed 56% of likely voters said they would support casino-style video lottery terminals to raise money for the HOPE Scholarship Program.

That support reaches across almost every demographic; even voters who identify themselves as "conservative" and "evangelical" approve.

The casino would include a 5,000-seat performance venue, 1,500-room hotel, luxury spa and restaurants. At the center of it all: a casino floor with 7,500 video lottery machines. There will be no game tables, slot machines, or sports betting.

"Our project, if you look at it, has more restrictions and more regulations than any other form of gaming than the lottery currently does right now," O'Leary said. For example, only people 21 years and up would be allowed in the casino. The age for buying a lottery ticket is 18 years old.

One of his most passionate arguments comes from a map, showing Georgia is one of only eight states without a casino.

Every year, Georgians spend an estimated $200 million at gaming venues outside of the state. North Carolina, Mississippi and Florida count metro Atlanta among their best markets for traveling gamblers.

The biggest opposition to the casino-style gambling comes from a group called the Georgia Family Council. Vice President of Public Policy Eric Cochling said they advocate for legislation that supports traditional family values. They're often involved in education issues, but say this is not the way to save HOPE. Cochling said a destination casino in Gwinnett would be bad for that community, and bad for Georgia families.

"It's the question of the means, whether the means justify the ends," Cochling said. He points to Atlantic City where the number of crimes within a thirty-mile radius increased 100%. He also objects to the government connection. The Georgia lottery board would own and maintain the machines, allowed under current Georgia law. Everything else would be privately funded.

"What you have here, is our government encouraging people to gamble with the hopes of some sort of get rich quick possibility -- a dream of getting rich and having an easy life, at the expense of the poor," Cochling said.

They are the two main players in this debate. But both groups are perplexed by the ballot question, unsure of who pushed for it and why.

O'Leary thinks it was designed to fail because of the wording (the ballot question does not include the terminology "video lottery terminals). Cochling thinks it will pass because of public sentiment over HOPE. The ballot question is a gamble for both sides.

"There's not this widespread outcry against it," Cochling said.

"We wouldn't work on this for eight years if we didn't think there was tremendous support for it," O'Leary said.

This is a non-binding question on the ballot, but it could be an important political tool in the future to kill or give life to the gambling debate. The Georgia Lottery board has to approve it. They said they're looking to local lawmakers for guidance on what they want for the state.